Shield



Jan. 12, 1932. p, v POWERS 1,841,054

SHIELD Filed June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 29 26 2; INVENTOR.

54 2. BM 17 POM 5R5,

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A TTORNEY.

Jan.v 12, 1932.

P. V. POWERS SHIELD Filed June 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

[ /201 V POWERS d WM \ A TTORNE Y.

llED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL V. POVJERS, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO SHIELD Application filed June 16, 1930. Serial No. 461,579.

. My invention relates to improvements in shields or guards to be worn upon the head, for protecting the face from the action of excessive heat, sparks, and flying solid particles t or the like.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a head encircling frame, to be worn upon the head,,and having self-adjusting means for properly'seeuring the frame upon heads of different shapes and sizes, within limits. The

shield element is carried by the head encircling frame and projects forwardly of the same to be arranged in advance of the face of the user. The connection between the shield element and the frame is such that the shield element may be folded rearwardlyin a collapsed and substantially fiat relation with respect to the frame. I have discove'red that mica is practically a non-conductor of heat and is, of course, transparent. The shield element is equipped with relatively large .window or windows, covering the major portion of the face of the wearer. These 5 windows are much larger than would be required for eye openings and are made relatively large so that their mica covering will extend over the major portion of the face. This not only affords an unobstructed View, but provides the face with the maximum heat insulation, extending over the major portion of the face. The shield element with the window or windows and mica covering for the same is substantially flat. The arrangement is such that the mica covering may be readily applied to and removed from the shield element. The device is extremely simple, light, durable and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like 4 numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a guard device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,

50.; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same,

Figure 4; is a longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of Figure-1,

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of a bracket and connecting arm, showing a frictional pivot joint between the same, and,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the device, showing the shield element shifted to the rear position and collapsed or folded substantially flat upon the frame.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the head engaging member or frame embodies a forward generally U-shaped strip 10, which is arranged within and rigidly attached to a rear gen erally U-shaped strip 11' by means of rivets12 or the like. The rear ends of the forward strip 10 project rearwardly beyond the rivets 12, in the form of extensions 13, which are flexible, and these extensions have their free ends connected with a retractile coil spring 14, attached thereto by rivets 15, .or the like. It is thus seen that the U-shaped strips 10 and 11 constitute a band for encircling the head, while the extensions 13 and spring 14 constitute self-adjusting means for engagement with the head, so that the frame will properly fit heads of different shapes and sizes, within limits.

The numeral 16 designates an inverted U- shaped strip arranged above the horizontal loop or frame and having its ends bent upon themselves outwardly, affording loops 17 the free ends of which are attached to the strip 16 by rivets 18 or the like. The inner sides of these loops 17 are rigidly attached. to the horizontal frame or loop by means of the rivets 12, as shown. The strip 16 is adapted to engage the top of the head, and thereby limit the downward movement of the frame upon the same.

The numeral 19 designates a shield or guard element as a whole, preferably in the form of a fiat sheet or plate. This shield element is of a size to properly cover the face of the wearer. This shield element is provided with a pair of windows 20, which are 1 preferably relatively large, extending over the major portion of the face. At the rear of the shield element 19 is a pocket frameQl, having windows corresponding in shape and size to the windows 20. ,The lower end of the pocket frame is attached to the shield element 19 by ,rivets22, spaced from the edges of the windows. Theshield element andpocket frame are connected at their vertical edges by rivets 23, also passing through brackets 24:, serving to rigidly attach 'a'llbf' these eleofwhich have; pivotal connections 28 with the outer sides of the-loops 17. Each pivotal connection 26 embodies a rivet or pivotelemerit-passing: through :op-enings in the parts connected and: also through a spring washer 29 having resilient itonguesi30. The purpose of, the spring-washer is-to. aiford proper: frictional engagement betweenthe. pivot element and connected parts, thereby: providingv a stiff j oi'nt. so; that thearms; 27;- and shield. element willremain in the. adjustedr'position when shifted thereto. v

IItLis, preferred to, constructthe head engaging frame shield element p ocket "frame, and supporting arms of'fibre,"due to its lightness, strength) and resistance to. heat.

In/the use of the device, the 'frame is arranged upon the-head which is inserted withinv the "forward" U-shaped strip 210 withythe extension 13 thereof drawn intoifirm engagement withithe" heaid, due to'the action of the spring 14. The strip "16'preventsidownward displacement of theframe upon the head. The arms 27 may now, be swung downwardly" amselecteldposition' to brin'gfthe shield element 19 in front of the face and this shield element: may be properly angularly adjusted-upon "the arms as required. Y'Ihe mica" covered "\YlIIClOWS are now- I d sposed f in front of the; face, affordingan unobstructed vision" and the area-of the windows is re] ativelylarge and;covers the ma or= portiolr of the face, affording themaximum protection againsttheaction of'heat. When"desird,the shield element maybeshifted' rearwardlyso that it assumes a generally 'flat -position,con-

invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

l Having thus .ldescribed 1 my. invention, I claim A face heat resisting shield, comprising a horizontal head encircling frame including a rea-rwardly facing forward U-shaped fibre strip, a rear forwardly facing U-shaped fibre strip, means rigidly attaching the forward ends of the rear U-shaped strip with the forward-.U-shaped strip at a point considerably nearer the forward end of the horizontal frame than its'rear end, the ends of the forward strip'eXtend-ing rearwardly beyond the pointsof connection for a substantial distance, a retractile coil spring-attached to the free ends 0f theforward stripjto draw them together, I a vertical inverted r .U-shaped fibre strip secured to thehorizontal section by the same attaching means and hence arranged nearer the forward end. of thehorizontal frame, the ends of the inverted U.-sha-ped strip being.bentoutwardlyto' form loops with the "free/ends of the loops attachedto the invertedJU-lshaped strip,,the outer sides of the loops being spaced. a substantial distance from the. horizontal frame, a flat fibre face platel-having large eye-opening means extending over the major portion of theface, fibre arms hingedto the vertical edges of the faceplate and hinged to the outerrsides of the loops so that they: are retained. substantiallyparallel, the arms" being longer thanithe height of the vertical inverted U-shaped strip soztliatthefaceplate can be swung back over the inverted"'U-shapedstripand rested upon the same "and the rear 'endof the horizontal framepsaid arins being then generally p aral- 1e1- With thehorizontal frame'so that the collapsed deviceis generallyfiat; and a 'fiat mica sheet' held :upon' the face plate to cover the eye-opening means.

i-In testimony whereof I'aflixmy signature.

i PAUL V. LPOWER-S. 

